Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Dark Garden wishes you a happy Thanksgiving! This year, we will be letting our staff celebrate with their families for an extra day. We will be closed this Thursday and Friday, November 24th & 25th. Then, when we re-open on November 26th, we'll have Small Business Saturday sales and giveaways all day long.

We know what you're really here for: corsets! All in-stock corsets are 15% off, for one day only. As you know, we rarely offer sales here at Dark Garden. We are thankful for all our loyal clients who empower us to support uncommon beauty every day. Please come kick off the holiday season and #shopsmall with us.

Select Hayes Valley businesses will also be partnering with us to share the love. Show us your receipt from another participating shop and receive 10% off the other items in your purchase. (This discount does not stack with our other #smallbusinesssaturday offers.)

Beyond the corset discount, of course we've got some free swag for you as well!

Free t-shirt with purchase for the first ten shoppers

Limited giveaways featuring our gorgeous collaborations with Joel Aron photography: gorgeous prints, a 2017 wall calendar, playing cards... a wide array of prizes that are both useful and decorative! To receive a giveaway, post to Instagram inside the shop. Location tag Dark Garden Unique Corsetry and use the hashtags #shopsmall and #darkgardencorsetry, then show us your post to get your free gift!

Even if we don't have what you want in stock, there's a perk for your new corset order as well! Select earrings are free with orders over $600, while supplies last.

Lastly, though certainly not least, we will be donating a portion of our proceeds to the ACLU. For every corset, and gift cards valued at $300+, purchased on Small Business Saturday, we will be donating $5 to the ACLU. If you are purchasing an in-stock corset (as opposed to placing an order), you can also opt to float that 15% to the ACLU instead of taking a discount.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

We have another delightful day of dress-up fun planned for you. On November 11th, from 3pm to 8pm, visit Dark Garden for the second of our Edwardian Ball prep parties. We'll be hosting other Edwardian Ball vendors to bring you a curated trunk show of delights, and extending our store hours to 8pm so you can peruse at your leisure. Shopping is hungry work, so we've teamed up with the famous Lovejoy's Tea Room to provide you with tea fare to nibble on.

This event is a rarity, hosting a delightful bevy of Edwardian Ball vendors for a trunk show party. We have a half-dozen artists set to appear at our boutique for one night only. They'll help make sure you are delightfully accessorized for the ball. While we'll have your corsets covered, designers such as Gembox Creations will adorn you with vintage-inspired and upcycled creations for men, women, and the home. Keep a close eye on the Facebook event as we'll be revealing the participating vendors one at a time!

You have just enough time to place an order for a Bespoke corset for Edwardian Ball, and our retail staff will be once more dressed to inspire. This is also a wonderful time to get a new corset or Finishing Belt to wear during the holiday season. Currently in stock are colorful leather corsets, sensual Risqué styles, and some favorites from our Signature Collection, in an array of sizes from 18-38".

Friday, October 7, 2016

Paradox Media and Dark Garden are proud to bring you The Night Circus, an intimate and elegant Halloween-Night Soiree celebrating Erin Morgenstern's modern classic. Music, magic, dance, and mystery await, nestled amidst a unique venue with sweeping views. Dark Garden's vision for Halloween is luxurious and alluring... macabre with a touch of the risqué and none of the cliché. Won't you join us at the Night Circus?

Though tickets to the Midnight Dinner have sold out, general admission tickets for the immersive show are still available for $60. Each ticket includes a complimentary beverage, with a cash bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres available throughout the night. (Update – as of October 11th, all tickets are sold out! Follow Paradox Media to stay in the loop for next year's event.)

So if you are drawn to All Hallows Eve, we hope we'll see you in your finery at the Night Circus. We'd love to facilitate your immersion in beauty for an elegant evening with likeminded individuals. Come by Dark Garden at 321 Linden St., San Francisco, for a new corset to wear to the event. We also have elegant stockings and captivating millinery, and complete ensembles available for rental.

From Folsom to Halloween, holiday, and beyond, Dark Garden is in the full swing of event season! If you missed the first of our prep parties last Saturday, we've got another one coming for you. On Sunday, October 16th, we'll have a special sale to help you polish off your Halloween ensembles.

Behind the scenes in Dark Garden's studio, where corsets are made.
via @DarkGardenCorsetry on Instagram.

This event is perfect for DIYers who didn't get a good enough look at our studio seconds at the Rummage Sale in July. We'll have an array of fabrics in different types and quantities as well as other items from our studio, like all the ribbon your heart could ever desire, vintage patterns, and more.

We're clearing some space in "Narnia," our cherished closet of garment samples, and you can reap the benefits. Some select archive corsets will also be making their way onto the floor, not to be seen again until next year's Rummage Sale! (Please note that, unlike the Rummage Sale, we will not be taking consignment items for this event.)

For questions about the sale, please email production@darkgarden.com. In the meantime, we'll be here at 321 Linden St., San Francisco, 7 days a week, making corset dreams come true!

On October 15th, we are hosting a special Saturday lacing event! We know weeknights, even Fridays, can be hard, so we're giving you another opportunity to enjoy an evening of lacing education with us. And to go with the special scheduling, we're featuring a special host: me! My name is Marianne Faulkner, and you may know me from my previous column on The Lingerie Addict, or my work here at Dark Garden as Fit Expert, Couture Coordinator, and Associate Designer under the name Pop Antique. I've been with Dark Garden for nearly eight years, five of which have been under the close tutelage of our internationally renowned proprietress Autumn Adamme.

Whether you're seeking lacing tips to top off your Halloween costume or are training your person-of-honor to lace you in for a late fall wedding, we invite you to join us at 5pm here at 321 Linden St., San Francisco. We'll teach you the right techniques for lacing a corset onto yourself or another person. I'm also happy to take questions about waist training and other specialized aspects of corsetry.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

This Saturday, October 1st, join us for a delightful day of Couture stylings. Come talk to us about having a one-of-a-kind Couture ensemble made for this year's Edwardian Ball! The flowers of Dark Garden will be dressed to inspire, in gorgeous collection ensembles. We'll pamper you with a light glass of prosecco, or you can stop next door for a special discount at Blue Bottle Coffee.

This is our first of three Edwardian Ball Prep Parties and it comes right in time for you to get a jump on Halloween as well! We have a luscious collection of colorful leather corsets available off-the-rack as well as other Limited Edition styles and some favorites from our Signature Collection. Why not buy some lovely stockings for your perfect pinup costume? Top off your ensemble with a Finishing Belt or get a new Made-to-Order corset moving, just in time for the beginning of the autumnal dress-up season!

Thursday, August 18, 2016

We're very excited at Dark Garden about our upcoming new look. We'll be doing some interior updating on our boutique floor next month, and so will be closed from Friday, September 2nd through Friday, September 9th. We are planning to reopen for business on Saturday, September 10th.

You may have realized these dates eclipse our quarterly lacing event by a day. The September lacing event has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 1st. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will always be happy to walk you through the lacing process during regular boutique hours, or over the phone. We'll resume our usual "first Friday of every third month" schedule in December, for our final event of the year on December 2nd. We're also having a special Saturday lacing event on October 15th.

Please call us at 415-431-7684 or email boutique@darkgarden.com with any further questions! We can't wait to show off the updated boutique, and we all look forward to seeing you at 321 Linden St when we reopen on September 10th.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Dark Garden is delighted to work with Glama-Rama Salon to style some enchanting looks at Glama-GoGo! Next Thursday, August 4th, we'll be partying at 111 Minna Gallery from 7 to 11:30pm. Entertainments for the evening include a hair runway show, performances, a Glama-Raffle, and of course, a bar with signature cocktails. Tickets are available for $15 on EventBrite.

We're partnering with Katey McKee, as she steps up as the new proprietress of Glama-Rama! Salon. Mermaid hair meets magical waistlines for the hair runway show, showcasing corseted looks for a range of gender presentations. Other featured stylists and designers include Jen Hofmann and Lust Designs latex, original Glama-Rama founder Deena Davenport, Hair by Helzer, and Onika Simone.

Kalico Delafay Millinery via @DarkGardenCorsetry on Instagram

There will also be a special "Wear Something on Your Head" competition with gift bag prizes. Conveniently, here at the Dark Garden boutique, we just restocked our selection of perky Pop Antique fascinators and one-of-a-kind Kalico Delafay millinery creations. Come into 321 Linden St., San Francisco, and play dress up with us! We're open 7 days a week.

Speaking personally, Katey McKee is so supremely talented that she's the only one I trust with my own hair. She's got a wonderful sense of color and the technical skills to match, bringing hair visions to life with panache. I'm delighted that we have the opportunity to partner with such an amazing stylist from another wonderful local business. I hope we'll see you there!

We hope you've been having a delightful summer! From Pride to Fourth of July to our upcoming Rummage Sale, there's no end to the special occasions this time of year. Our boutique will be closed for the following events this summer.Boutique Closures, Summer/Fall 2016

Monday, July 4th – Independence Day

Sunday, September 18th – Urban Air Market

You're welcome to stop in and see us during regular business hours any other day! That's Sunday through Wednesday, 11am to 5pm; Thursday, 11am to 6pm; and Friday & Saturday, 11:30am to 6:30pm.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Our Annual Rummage Sale is just around the corner, and we've got some exciting updates! In 2016, we're livening up the sale with a party atmosphere featuring prizes, giveaways and of course a hydration station to help you beat the heat. We've expanded our raffle, marked down some sexy styles, and, best yet, have a new approach to that infamous 'round-the-block line to get in. You won't want to miss this one, and it'll be easier than ever to get in and shop to your heart's content. Come and get it on July 17, 2016, only at 321 Linden St., San Francisco!

The biggest news of all is our line management system! No more lining up at 5am (unless you really want to). Instead, simply sign up for the time you'd like to come via EventBrite. We recommend you show up about 15-20 minutes early. We'll check you in on the guest list and do a preliminary sizing in line before showing you inside with the rest of your group. We also have a Premium Early Access Pass for a mere $25. A limited number of lucky patrons will get first chance at this year's selection, from 10am to 11am.

You can also buy raffle tickets while you're getting sized outside. This year's raffle will feature not just a gorgeous bespoke corset, but also two tiers of runner-up prizes: a MTO Signature Collection corset, and one of our amazing new Waspie Belts. Prize availability is based on the number of tickets sold, so to sweeten the pot we've got a fun giveaway for all patrons who buy at least 5 raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are only $5 each!

Speaking of deals, all Dita Von Teese lingerie will be 30% off! Every purchase of Dita Von Teese lingerie will get you a beautiful Dita Von Teese photo card. Spend at least $200 to receive an autographed photo card – but act quickly, we only have 6 of them left! We have knickers, half-slips, and suspender belts in European sizes 8-18, but we're down to our last few in size 10 (size small), and just one 20 and 22. As I write this, we have between 1 and 4 bras left for sizes 32A-C, 32E, 34B-D, and 36B-C. If you don't want to take your chances waiting for the discount and hoping your size doesn't sell out, come in today and play dress up with us!

Don't forget, if you have a Dark Garden corset you'd like to sell at our Rummage Sale, you can bring your consignment corsets in from now until July 3rd. Email boutique@darkgarden.com if you have any questions about corset consignment.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Dark Garden's proprietress and lead designer,
Autumn Adamme, in a bespoke corset dress
made from upcycled men's shirt and tie

We're currently putting together a syllabus for sewing-related classes. This launches an exciting development for us, showcasing our strength: creating beautifully fit and well-constructed handmade garments in the heart of San Francisco. More will be revealed in the future! In the meantime, we invite you to schedule an appointment for one-on-one fitting and sewing advice with our founder, Autumn Adamme.

Autumn fitting, draping, and hand-finishing a couture bridal ensemble

What kinds of projects can Autumn help you tackle? How about...

A garment in-progress

A mockup that you've started, but can't muster the courage to go forward with

A hard-to-fit client for your personal sewing business

Cutting for stripe and plaid matching

Fine finishing and embellishment techniques

Autumn's process for hand-placed and -finished textural overlay.

While this is a new service at Dark Garden, Autumn is no stranger to teaching. She's done several very successful workshops at the iconic Britex fabrics, and has both taught at and been keynote speaker for the Oxford Conference of Corsetry. Appointments are available in 1/2 hour increments up to 2 hours. The rate is $85 per hour, or $50 per half hour. Please email boutique@darkgarden.com to schedule, or call the boutique at 415-431-7684.

The curviest event of the year is nearly upon us! Join Dark Garden on July 17th for our annual rummage sale, our biggest single-day event. Savvy shoppers line up on Linden St. before we open to get first dibs on a selection of archive, unworn bespoke samples, and gently loved pre-owned corsets, as well as discounted stock corsets, clothing, accessories, and studio odds and ends.

If you've outgrown - or outshrunk - your old Dark Garden corsets, bring them in between June 3rd and July 3rd to be assessed for consignment. You can opt to get cash or Dark Garden store credit if your corset sells at the rummage sale. Corsets must be dry cleaned and in good condition to be eligible; only Dark Garden corsets can be sold at our rummage sale. Please email boutique@darkgarden.com with, "Rummage sale consignment," in the subject line to make arrangements for consigning your Dark Garden corset.

Thank you for making last year's Rummage Sale such a resounding and joyous success. Please RSVP to this year's event on Facebook and share it with your friends - the rummage sale is a crazy day, and it's also an absolute blast. We'll see you there!

Our Hayes Valley boutique has newly updated our store hours for spring. Beginning this week, our retail location at 437 Linden St., San Francisco will be open for business during the following times. Of course, you can shop online 24/7 at www.darkgarden.com!

SundaythroughWednesday: 11am to 5pm

Thursday: 11am to 6pm

Friday & Saturday: 11:30am to 6:30pm

In addition to these new hours, we have two scheduled closures coming up. The Dark Garden boutique will not be open on Wednesday, 4/13, and Sunday, 5/1. We invite you to explore Hayes Valley during Urban Air Market on May 1st, and return to visit us during our normal business hours another day.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Dark Garden wishes you a happy Thanksgiving! This year, we will be letting our staff celebrate with their families for an extra day. We will be closed this Thursday and Friday, November 24th & 25th. Then, when we re-open on November 26th, we'll have Small Business Saturday sales and giveaways all day long.

We know what you're really here for: corsets! All in-stock corsets are 15% off, for one day only. As you know, we rarely offer sales here at Dark Garden. We are thankful for all our loyal clients who empower us to support uncommon beauty every day. Please come kick off the holiday season and #shopsmall with us.

Select Hayes Valley businesses will also be partnering with us to share the love. Show us your receipt from another participating shop and receive 10% off the other items in your purchase. (This discount does not stack with our other #smallbusinesssaturday offers.)

Beyond the corset discount, of course we've got some free swag for you as well!

Free t-shirt with purchase for the first ten shoppers

Limited giveaways featuring our gorgeous collaborations with Joel Aron photography: gorgeous prints, a 2017 wall calendar, playing cards... a wide array of prizes that are both useful and decorative! To receive a giveaway, post to Instagram inside the shop. Location tag Dark Garden Unique Corsetry and use the hashtags #shopsmall and #darkgardencorsetry, then show us your post to get your free gift!

Even if we don't have what you want in stock, there's a perk for your new corset order as well! Select earrings are free with orders over $600, while supplies last.

Lastly, though certainly not least, we will be donating a portion of our proceeds to the ACLU. For every corset, and gift cards valued at $300+, purchased on Small Business Saturday, we will be donating $5 to the ACLU. If you are purchasing an in-stock corset (as opposed to placing an order), you can also opt to float that 15% to the ACLU instead of taking a discount.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

We have another delightful day of dress-up fun planned for you. On November 11th, from 3pm to 8pm, visit Dark Garden for the second of our Edwardian Ball prep parties. We'll be hosting other Edwardian Ball vendors to bring you a curated trunk show of delights, and extending our store hours to 8pm so you can peruse at your leisure. Shopping is hungry work, so we've teamed up with the famous Lovejoy's Tea Room to provide you with tea fare to nibble on.

This event is a rarity, hosting a delightful bevy of Edwardian Ball vendors for a trunk show party. We have a half-dozen artists set to appear at our boutique for one night only. They'll help make sure you are delightfully accessorized for the ball. While we'll have your corsets covered, designers such as Gembox Creations will adorn you with vintage-inspired and upcycled creations for men, women, and the home. Keep a close eye on the Facebook event as we'll be revealing the participating vendors one at a time!

You have just enough time to place an order for a Bespoke corset for Edwardian Ball, and our retail staff will be once more dressed to inspire. This is also a wonderful time to get a new corset or Finishing Belt to wear during the holiday season. Currently in stock are colorful leather corsets, sensual Risqué styles, and some favorites from our Signature Collection, in an array of sizes from 18-38".

Friday, October 7, 2016

Paradox Media and Dark Garden are proud to bring you The Night Circus, an intimate and elegant Halloween-Night Soiree celebrating Erin Morgenstern's modern classic. Music, magic, dance, and mystery await, nestled amidst a unique venue with sweeping views. Dark Garden's vision for Halloween is luxurious and alluring... macabre with a touch of the risqué and none of the cliché. Won't you join us at the Night Circus?

Though tickets to the Midnight Dinner have sold out, general admission tickets for the immersive show are still available for $60. Each ticket includes a complimentary beverage, with a cash bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres available throughout the night. (Update – as of October 11th, all tickets are sold out! Follow Paradox Media to stay in the loop for next year's event.)

So if you are drawn to All Hallows Eve, we hope we'll see you in your finery at the Night Circus. We'd love to facilitate your immersion in beauty for an elegant evening with likeminded individuals. Come by Dark Garden at 321 Linden St., San Francisco, for a new corset to wear to the event. We also have elegant stockings and captivating millinery, and complete ensembles available for rental.

From Folsom to Halloween, holiday, and beyond, Dark Garden is in the full swing of event season! If you missed the first of our prep parties last Saturday, we've got another one coming for you. On Sunday, October 16th, we'll have a special sale to help you polish off your Halloween ensembles.

Behind the scenes in Dark Garden's studio, where corsets are made.
via @DarkGardenCorsetry on Instagram.

This event is perfect for DIYers who didn't get a good enough look at our studio seconds at the Rummage Sale in July. We'll have an array of fabrics in different types and quantities as well as other items from our studio, like all the ribbon your heart could ever desire, vintage patterns, and more.

We're clearing some space in "Narnia," our cherished closet of garment samples, and you can reap the benefits. Some select archive corsets will also be making their way onto the floor, not to be seen again until next year's Rummage Sale! (Please note that, unlike the Rummage Sale, we will not be taking consignment items for this event.)

For questions about the sale, please email production@darkgarden.com. In the meantime, we'll be here at 321 Linden St., San Francisco, 7 days a week, making corset dreams come true!

Friday, September 30, 2016

On October 15th, we are hosting a special Saturday lacing event! We know weeknights, even Fridays, can be hard, so we're giving you another opportunity to enjoy an evening of lacing education with us. And to go with the special scheduling, we're featuring a special host: me! My name is Marianne Faulkner, and you may know me from my previous column on The Lingerie Addict, or my work here at Dark Garden as Fit Expert, Couture Coordinator, and Associate Designer under the name Pop Antique. I've been with Dark Garden for nearly eight years, five of which have been under the close tutelage of our internationally renowned proprietress Autumn Adamme.

Whether you're seeking lacing tips to top off your Halloween costume or are training your person-of-honor to lace you in for a late fall wedding, we invite you to join us at 5pm here at 321 Linden St., San Francisco. We'll teach you the right techniques for lacing a corset onto yourself or another person. I'm also happy to take questions about waist training and other specialized aspects of corsetry.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

This Saturday, October 1st, join us for a delightful day of Couture stylings. Come talk to us about having a one-of-a-kind Couture ensemble made for this year's Edwardian Ball! The flowers of Dark Garden will be dressed to inspire, in gorgeous collection ensembles. We'll pamper you with a light glass of prosecco, or you can stop next door for a special discount at Blue Bottle Coffee.

This is our first of three Edwardian Ball Prep Parties and it comes right in time for you to get a jump on Halloween as well! We have a luscious collection of colorful leather corsets available off-the-rack as well as other Limited Edition styles and some favorites from our Signature Collection. Why not buy some lovely stockings for your perfect pinup costume? Top off your ensemble with a Finishing Belt or get a new Made-to-Order corset moving, just in time for the beginning of the autumnal dress-up season!

Thursday, August 18, 2016

We're very excited at Dark Garden about our upcoming new look. We'll be doing some interior updating on our boutique floor next month, and so will be closed from Friday, September 2nd through Friday, September 9th. We are planning to reopen for business on Saturday, September 10th.

You may have realized these dates eclipse our quarterly lacing event by a day. The September lacing event has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 1st. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will always be happy to walk you through the lacing process during regular boutique hours, or over the phone. We'll resume our usual "first Friday of every third month" schedule in December, for our final event of the year on December 2nd. We're also having a special Saturday lacing event on October 15th.

Please call us at 415-431-7684 or email boutique@darkgarden.com with any further questions! We can't wait to show off the updated boutique, and we all look forward to seeing you at 321 Linden St when we reopen on September 10th.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Dark Garden is delighted to work with Glama-Rama Salon to style some enchanting looks at Glama-GoGo! Next Thursday, August 4th, we'll be partying at 111 Minna Gallery from 7 to 11:30pm. Entertainments for the evening include a hair runway show, performances, a Glama-Raffle, and of course, a bar with signature cocktails. Tickets are available for $15 on EventBrite.

We're partnering with Katey McKee, as she steps up as the new proprietress of Glama-Rama! Salon. Mermaid hair meets magical waistlines for the hair runway show, showcasing corseted looks for a range of gender presentations. Other featured stylists and designers include Jen Hofmann and Lust Designs latex, original Glama-Rama founder Deena Davenport, Hair by Helzer, and Onika Simone.

Kalico Delafay Millinery via @DarkGardenCorsetry on Instagram

There will also be a special "Wear Something on Your Head" competition with gift bag prizes. Conveniently, here at the Dark Garden boutique, we just restocked our selection of perky Pop Antique fascinators and one-of-a-kind Kalico Delafay millinery creations. Come into 321 Linden St., San Francisco, and play dress up with us! We're open 7 days a week.

Speaking personally, Katey McKee is so supremely talented that she's the only one I trust with my own hair. She's got a wonderful sense of color and the technical skills to match, bringing hair visions to life with panache. I'm delighted that we have the opportunity to partner with such an amazing stylist from another wonderful local business. I hope we'll see you there!

Friday, July 1, 2016

We hope you've been having a delightful summer! From Pride to Fourth of July to our upcoming Rummage Sale, there's no end to the special occasions this time of year. Our boutique will be closed for the following events this summer.Boutique Closures, Summer/Fall 2016

Monday, July 4th – Independence Day

Sunday, September 18th – Urban Air Market

You're welcome to stop in and see us during regular business hours any other day! That's Sunday through Wednesday, 11am to 5pm; Thursday, 11am to 6pm; and Friday & Saturday, 11:30am to 6:30pm.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Our Annual Rummage Sale is just around the corner, and we've got some exciting updates! In 2016, we're livening up the sale with a party atmosphere featuring prizes, giveaways and of course a hydration station to help you beat the heat. We've expanded our raffle, marked down some sexy styles, and, best yet, have a new approach to that infamous 'round-the-block line to get in. You won't want to miss this one, and it'll be easier than ever to get in and shop to your heart's content. Come and get it on July 17, 2016, only at 321 Linden St., San Francisco!

The biggest news of all is our line management system! No more lining up at 5am (unless you really want to). Instead, simply sign up for the time you'd like to come via EventBrite. We recommend you show up about 15-20 minutes early. We'll check you in on the guest list and do a preliminary sizing in line before showing you inside with the rest of your group. We also have a Premium Early Access Pass for a mere $25. A limited number of lucky patrons will get first chance at this year's selection, from 10am to 11am.

You can also buy raffle tickets while you're getting sized outside. This year's raffle will feature not just a gorgeous bespoke corset, but also two tiers of runner-up prizes: a MTO Signature Collection corset, and one of our amazing new Waspie Belts. Prize availability is based on the number of tickets sold, so to sweeten the pot we've got a fun giveaway for all patrons who buy at least 5 raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are only $5 each!

Speaking of deals, all Dita Von Teese lingerie will be 30% off! Every purchase of Dita Von Teese lingerie will get you a beautiful Dita Von Teese photo card. Spend at least $200 to receive an autographed photo card – but act quickly, we only have 6 of them left! We have knickers, half-slips, and suspender belts in European sizes 8-18, but we're down to our last few in size 10 (size small), and just one 20 and 22. As I write this, we have between 1 and 4 bras left for sizes 32A-C, 32E, 34B-D, and 36B-C. If you don't want to take your chances waiting for the discount and hoping your size doesn't sell out, come in today and play dress up with us!

Don't forget, if you have a Dark Garden corset you'd like to sell at our Rummage Sale, you can bring your consignment corsets in from now until July 3rd. Email boutique@darkgarden.com if you have any questions about corset consignment.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Dark Garden's proprietress and lead designer,
Autumn Adamme, in a bespoke corset dress
made from upcycled men's shirt and tie

We're currently putting together a syllabus for sewing-related classes. This launches an exciting development for us, showcasing our strength: creating beautifully fit and well-constructed handmade garments in the heart of San Francisco. More will be revealed in the future! In the meantime, we invite you to schedule an appointment for one-on-one fitting and sewing advice with our founder, Autumn Adamme.

Autumn fitting, draping, and hand-finishing a couture bridal ensemble

What kinds of projects can Autumn help you tackle? How about...

A garment in-progress

A mockup that you've started, but can't muster the courage to go forward with

A hard-to-fit client for your personal sewing business

Cutting for stripe and plaid matching

Fine finishing and embellishment techniques

Autumn's process for hand-placed and -finished textural overlay.

While this is a new service at Dark Garden, Autumn is no stranger to teaching. She's done several very successful workshops at the iconic Britex fabrics, and has both taught at and been keynote speaker for the Oxford Conference of Corsetry. Appointments are available in 1/2 hour increments up to 2 hours. The rate is $85 per hour, or $50 per half hour. Please email boutique@darkgarden.com to schedule, or call the boutique at 415-431-7684.

The curviest event of the year is nearly upon us! Join Dark Garden on July 17th for our annual rummage sale, our biggest single-day event. Savvy shoppers line up on Linden St. before we open to get first dibs on a selection of archive, unworn bespoke samples, and gently loved pre-owned corsets, as well as discounted stock corsets, clothing, accessories, and studio odds and ends.

If you've outgrown - or outshrunk - your old Dark Garden corsets, bring them in between June 3rd and July 3rd to be assessed for consignment. You can opt to get cash or Dark Garden store credit if your corset sells at the rummage sale. Corsets must be dry cleaned and in good condition to be eligible; only Dark Garden corsets can be sold at our rummage sale. Please email boutique@darkgarden.com with, "Rummage sale consignment," in the subject line to make arrangements for consigning your Dark Garden corset.

Thank you for making last year's Rummage Sale such a resounding and joyous success. Please RSVP to this year's event on Facebook and share it with your friends - the rummage sale is a crazy day, and it's also an absolute blast. We'll see you there!

Friday, April 1, 2016

Our Hayes Valley boutique has newly updated our store hours for spring. Beginning this week, our retail location at 437 Linden St., San Francisco will be open for business during the following times. Of course, you can shop online 24/7 at www.darkgarden.com!

SundaythroughWednesday: 11am to 5pm

Thursday: 11am to 6pm

Friday & Saturday: 11:30am to 6:30pm

In addition to these new hours, we have two scheduled closures coming up. The Dark Garden boutique will not be open on Wednesday, 4/13, and Sunday, 5/1. We invite you to explore Hayes Valley during Urban Air Market on May 1st, and return to visit us during our normal business hours another day.